Display Package With Swinging Elements And Method Of Use

ABSTRACT

A blister package is provided including a blister having a pair of moveable article holders that cooperate to retain an article for display. The first article holder extends from the blister and is snap-fit into a snap element when in an article retaining position. The second article holder extends from the blister and engages a stop element when in an article retaining position. Alternatively, the second article holder may be snap-fitted into a second snap element. The snap-fitted engagement of the first article holder secures the article in place within the blister package. A method of packaging an article in a blister package is also provided including the steps of: a) positioning an article between first and second movable article holders; b) snap-fitting the first article holder into an article retaining position that entraps one portion of the article; and c) moving the second article holder into engagement with a stop element or a snap element to assist in holding the second article holder in an article retaining position that entraps a second portion of the article.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to packaging, and more particularly to blister packages.

A wide variety of products intended for retail sale are packaged in transparent plastic packaging. This type of packaging is desirable because it gives the consumer the ability to see the packaged article at the point of sale. Two of the most common forms of plastic point-of-sale packages includes clamshell packages and blister packages. Clamshell packages typically include a pair of formed plastic components that close around the article to be packaged. The two components are joined together along a hinge so that they can be closed around the article during packaging, much like a clamshell. Although durable, conventional clamshell packaging is relatively expensive to manufacture because it uses a relatively large amount of plastic. It can also be somewhat difficult to package articles in clamshell packages, and to remove articles from clamshell packages.

Blister packages are a relatively inexpensive alternative to clamshell packaging. A conventional blister package include a plastic blister that forms the front of the package and a backing material, such as paperboard, that closes the blister. Blister packages are advantageous because they use less plastic and are therefore relatively inexpensive to manufacture. At the same time, blister packages remain effective in enabling customers to view packaged articles during retail sale. Blister packages vary dramatically in design and configuration. However, many take the form of a “face-seal” blister package. A conventional “face-seal” blister package will include a transparent blister that is secured to the face of the backing material by adhesive. This backing material is typically a paperboard panel, but may be manufactured from other materials. Another common type of blister package is a “mock clamshell,” which is intended to provide the appearance of a clam shell package. The “mock clamshell” generally consists of a vacuum-formed blister and a backing material that is fitted into the rear of the blister, for example, recessed within a flange.

Although providing a number of advantages over clamshell packages, the typical “face-seal” or “mock clamshell” blister package construction may suffer from several drawbacks in certain applications. For example, the blister pocket typically encloses the entire packaged article. This prevents the consumer from touching the article and can make it more difficult for the customer to view the display article. Generally, the pocket utilizes more material than is necessary to retain the display article adding unnecessary costs to production. Moreover, because the conventional blister package can be difficult for the consumer to open by hand, a pair of scissors or even a sharp knife are often required to free a packaged article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned problems are overcome in the present invention, which provides a blister package including a blister having a pair of moveable article holders. The pair of moveable article holders cooperate to retain an article for display. The first article holder extends from the blister and is snap-fitted into engagement with a snap element when in an article retaining position. The second article holder extends from the blister and may be moved into engagement with a stop element when in an article retaining position. Alternatively, the second article holder may also be snap-fitted into engagement with a snap element.

In one embodiment, the packaged article acts to retain the second article holder in an abutting engagement with the stop element. In this arrangement the article can be securely retained by the cooperation of the first article holder, which pivots to a snap-fit engagement with the snap element, and the second article holder, which pivots to an engagement position with the stop element. In a further embodiment, the first article holder extends from the periphery of the blister, and the second article holder extends from an interior of the blister.

In another embodiment, the first article holder has an arm that engages a snap element on the blister. The arm securely snap-fits with the snap element when retaining the article. The characteristics of the arm and/or snap element, such as shape and length, may be varied to provide the stiffness desired to retain the arm in engagement with the snap element. Optionally, the leading edge of the arm may be curved to provide less resistance when snapping the arm into engagement with the snap element. Additionally, the first article holder may be provided with a flange that allows the blister package to stand generally upright on a flat surface when the first article holder is in engagement with the snap element.

In another embodiment, the blister contains a projection that forms a draw to seat the display article. The draw allows the display article to be more effectively retained by the dual article holders. Additionally, the blister may be provided with a hole for hanging the blister package from a display hook at point of sale. A portion of the periphery of the blister may also be provided with a flange which gives the blister package greater stability when set on a flat surface with the article facing the viewer.

In yet another embodiment, the blister is molded to provide a platform recess designed to receive a backer card for display purposes. In this embodiment the platform recess is defined by the back surface of the blister so that the backer card is fitted into the rear of the blister. The blister may include tabs located on the sides of the platform so that the backer card may be snap-fitted into place in the platform recess. The backer card provides a viewing surface on which information about the product being sold can be provided to the customer. The backer card may contain a hole for hanging the blister package from a display hook at point of sale.

In another aspect of the invention, a blister package provides a method for packing an article including the steps of: a) positioning an article between first and second movable article holders; b) snap-fitting the first article holder into an article retaining position to entraps one portion of the article; and c) moving the second article holder into engagement with either a stop element or a snap element that assists in holding the second article holder in an article retaining position to entrap a second portion of the article. In one embodiment, the snap-fitting retention of the first article holder effectively holds the article and second article holder in place, whereby the article is securely retained between the two article holders.

The present invention provides a blister package that is cost effective and relatively easy to manufacture because a single one-sided die can be used in forming the blister package. The invention also reduces production costs because less material is needed to form the dual article holders than would be used to form a conventional blister pocket. In addition, the dual article holders facilitate easy packaging and removal of the article, and allow the customer to touch and more easily view the article at the point of sale. Further, the method of the present invention provides a simple and efficient method for securing an article in a blister package.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the invention and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the blister package.

FIG. 2 is a front exploded perspective view the blister package with article holders in an article retaining position.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view showing a blister with article holders in a disengaged position.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the blister with article holders in a disengaged position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the blister package with article holders in a disengaged position.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the blister with article holders in a disengaged position.

FIG. 7A is a side view of the blister with the article holders engaged in the article retaining position.

FIG. 7B is a side view of the blister retaining an article.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the backer card.

FIG. 9A is a cross section of the tabs taken along line 9A-9A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9B is a cross section of a snap element in engagement with an arm taken along line 9B-9B of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A display package 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1, and generally designated 10. The blister package 10 is designed to display and hold articles for sale. In the illustrated embodiment, the blister package 10 includes a blister 20, an article 300, and a backer card 40 (See FIG. 2). For the purposes of this disclosure, the terms “front,” “back,” “bottom,” “top,” “forward,” and “rearward” are used to denote the corresponding directions with respect to the blister package when it is hanging facing the customer when the package is on display. The present invention is described with reference to a specific designed for a specific bottle. The present invention is, however, well suited for use in packaging essentially any article of sufficient size and character to be entrapped by article holders.

The blister 20 is typically constructed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or some other polymer. Although the blister stock is typically transparent or translucent, the stock may be opaque in some applications. The blister 20 can be virtually any desired size and shape depending on the article to be packaged and aesthetic considerations. The blister 20 will vary in thickness from application to application. For standard applications, the blister 20 is likely to have a thickness ranging between 12 and 30 gauge (i.e. 12 to 30 thousands of an inch).

The blister 20 contains a front surface 22, and a back surface 32 as shown in FIG. 9A. In the illustrated embodiment, the front surface 22 of the blister 20 is contoured to define a snap element 70 and a stop element 80 (See FIG. 3). It is not strictly necessary for the stop element 80 to be defined by contours in the blister 20; rather, in some applications, an un-contoured or planar portion of the front surface 22 of the blister 20 may act as the stop element 80. The blister 20 is also provided with a first article holder 50 and a second article holder 60 that extend from either surface 22 and 32 or from the periphery of the blister 20 (See FIG. 4). The first article holder 50 is selectively movable into secured engagement with the snap element 70 (See FIG. 9A). The second article holder 60 is selectively moveable into abutting engagement with the stop element 80 (See FIG. 7A). When the first article holder 50 is engaged with the snap element 70, and the second article holder 60 is in abutting engagement with the stop element 80, the blister package 10 is in a configuration generally termed the article retaining position or article display position (See FIG. 7A). This position contrasts with the disengaged position 200 of the blister package 10 as shown in FIG. 5.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first article holder 50 and second article holder 60 are joined to the remainder of the blister 20 along living hinges that permit pivotal movement of the two article holders 50 and 60. The pivoting of the article holders 50 and 60 may be facilitated by perforations, trim lines, die cuts, or other mechanisms generally know in the art. The first article holder 50 may extend from the interior or periphery of the blister 20. For example, FIG. 4 shows the first article 50 extending from the periphery of the blister 20. Likewise, the second article holder 60 may be located on the interior or periphery of the blister 20. In FIG. 4, the second article holder 60 extends from the interior of the blister 20. The article holders 50 and 60 can be virtually any size and shape. Each article holder 50 and 60 is designed to define an appropriate space for retaining an article 300 to be packaged.

In the illustrated embodiment, the article 300 acts to retain the second article holder 60 in an abutting engagement with the stop element 80 (See FIG. 7B). In this arrangement, the article 300 is securely retained by the cooperation of the first article holder 50, which moves from a disengaged position to a snap-fit engagement position with the snap element 70, and the second article holder 60, which moves to an abutting engagement position with the stop element 80. Alternatively, the second article holder may be configured to engage a second snap element (not shown) so that the second article holder may also be snap-fitted into an article retaining position. In this alternative embodiment, the second article holder is configured to be selectively interfitted with the second snap element. For example, the second article holder may include arms similar to arms 56 (described below) or with other contours configured to provide a snap-fit engagement with the second snap element.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first article holder 50 contains a receptacle 52 designed to receive a portion of the article 300 (See FIG. 3). Likewise, the second article holder 60 may contain a receptacle 62 designed to receive a portion of the article 300 (see FIG. 2). The receptacles 52 and 62 seat the article 300 such that the article 300 is more effectively retained by the article holders 50 and 60. In yet another embodiment, the first article holder 50 contains a flange 54 that extends outwardly from the surface of the first article holder 50 when the first article holder 50 is viewed as shown in FIG. 4. The flange helps the blister package 10 to stand in substantially an upright position when the first article holder 50 is in engagement with the snap element 70 as show in FIG. 7A.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first article holder 50 is provided with arms 56 that engage the snap element 70 (See FIG. 7A). An edge 57 of each arm 56 engages the snap elements 70 so that first article holder 50 is securely retained in the article retaining position 100. The characteristics of the arms 56, such as the shape and/or length 59 of the arms 56, may be varied to provide the stiffness desired to maintain a snap-fit between the arms 56 and the snap elements 70 (See FIG. 5). For example, longer arms 56 may reduce the overall force required to snap-fit the first article holder 50 in place. The leading closing edge 58 of the arm 56 may be non-planar to provide less resistance when snapping the arm 56 into engagement with the snap element 70 (See FIG. 9B). Alternatively, or in addition, the characteristics of the snap element, such as size or shape, may be varied to control the force required to operate the snap-fitting interaction of the arms 56 and snap elements 70.

Depending on the type of article being offered for sale, the blister 20 may contain a hanging hole 26 for hanging the blister package 10 from a display hook (See FIG. 4). The size, shape and location of this hanging hole 26 will vary depending on the article offered for sale. In a further embodiment, the blister 20 contains a projection that forms a draw 24 as show in FIG. 3. The draw 24 is molded to a shape similar to that of a portion of the article 300 so that the draw 24 more effectively seats the article 300.

In some instances, the periphery of the blister 20 may contain a flange 28 extending outwardly from the blister 20 around at least a portion of the periphery of the blister 20 (see FIG. 4). The blister 20 is molded to transition rearward, toward the flange 28, to form a platform recess 30 at the back of the blister 20 (See FIG. 9A). The platform recess 30 is defined by the back surface 32 of the blister between the perimeter defined by the periphery flange 28 (see FIG. 9A). The angle of the transition rearward relative to the front surface 22 of the blister 20 will vary depending upon application and aesthetic requirements. As shown in FIG. 3, the blister 20 transition angle may also vary to accommodate the first article holder 50 or some other feature of the invention. The periphery of the platform recess may contain tabs 36 for holding a backer card 40 (See FIG. 9A). The backer card 40 may be dimensioned such that a surface of the backer card 40 maintains contact with the tabs 36 to keep the backer card within the platform recess 30. Thus, the platform recess 30 provides access to the back of the blister 20 such that the backer card 40 can be fitted with the blister package 10 for indicia or aesthetic purposes at point of sale.

The backer card 40 may be used in some applications. The backer card 40 is typically constructed out of paperboard material. However, other materials commonly known in the art may be substituted. The backer card 40 provides a front and rear viewing surfaces on which product information and other graphics can be displayed. Printed material on the front surface will typically be visible through the transparent or translucent blister 20. The dimensions of the backer card 40 may vary depending upon the size of the package 10 and the article 300 offered for sale. In one embodiment, the backer card 40 defines a hole 42 for hanging the blister package from a display hook at point of sale as shown in FIG. 8.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for packing an article 300 using a blister package 10 containing a blister 20, a snap element 70, a first article holder 50, and a second article holder 60. The package 10 may also include a stop element 80 or a second snap element (not shown). The method includes the steps of: a) moving the first article holder 50 into a securing engagement with the snap element 70; b) moving the second article holder 60 into engagement with either a stop element 80 or a second snap element (not shown); and c) positioning the article 300 between the first article holder 50 and the second article holder 60 such that the article 300 is entrapped between the article holders 50 and 60. The order of these steps is not important. In those embodiments including a stop element, the article 300 is held in place by the first article holder 50, which in turn holds the second article holder 60 in engagement with the stop element 80 as shown in FIG. 7B. In those embodiments that include two snap elements, each article holder 50 and 60 is separately held in the article retaining position by the corresponding snap element 80.

The above description is that of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any reference claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. 

1. A blister package for packaging an article comprising: a blister, said blister containing a snap element and a stop element; a first article holder extending from said blister, said first article holder being selectively moveable into securing engagement with said snap element; a second article holder extending from said blister; wherein said first article holder and said second article holder cooperating to retain the article in the package.
 2. The blister package of claim 1 wherein said blister includes at least one of a second snap element and a stop element; and wherein said second article holder is movable into an article retaining position, said second article holder being retained in said article retaining position at least in part by one of an abutting engagement with said stop element and a snap-fitted engagement with said snap element.
 3. The blister package of claim 2 wherein said first article holder pivots into securing engagement with said snap element and said second article holder pivots into engagement with said stop element.
 4. The blister package of claim 1 wherein said blister forms a platform recess designed to receive a backer card.
 5. The blister package of claim 4 further comprising a backer card and wherein said platform recess defines a plurality of tabs.
 6. The blister package of claim 5 wherein said backer card contains a hanging aperture, said backer card being printed with indicia regarding an article for sale.
 7. The blister package of claim 1 wherein said first article holder extends from a periphery of said blister.
 8. The blister package of claim 7 wherein said second article holder extends from an interior portion of said blister.
 9. The blister package of claim 3 wherein said first article holder and said second article holder each define a receptacle for retaining a portion of said article.
 10. The blister package of claim 1 wherein said first article holder includes an arm engaging said snap element.
 11. The blister package of claim 10 wherein said arm has a leading face that is non-planar.
 12. The blister package of claim 1 wherein said first article holder is provided with a flange along a portion of a periphery of said first article holder, said flange allowing said blister package to stand generally upright on a substantially flat surface when said first article holder is moved into securing engagement with said snap element.
 13. The blister package of claim 3 wherein said blister defines a draw disposed between said first article holder and said second article holder, said draw seating a portion of said article.
 14. A packaged article comprising: an article; a plastic blister including: a snap element; a first article holder integral with and extending from a periphery of said blister, said first article holder being pivoted into securing engagement with said snap element; a second article holder integral with and extending from said blister, said first article holder and said second article holder cooperating to retain the article.
 15. The packaged article of claim 14 wherein said blister includes a second snap element, said second article holder being movable into securing engagement with said second snap element.
 16. The packaged article of claim 14 wherein said blister includes a stop element, said second article holder being movable into abutting engagement with stop element.
 17. A method for packaging an article in a blister package comprising the steps of: forming a plastic blister having a first snap element, a first moveable article holder, and a second moveable article holder, said forming step including forming the blister with at least one of a stop element and a second snap element; moving the first article holder into engagement with at least one of the stop element or the second snap element; moving the second article holder into securing engagement with the first snap element; positioning the article such that it is trapped between the first article holder and the second article holder.
 18. The method for packaging an article in a blister package of claim 17 wherein the article and the second article holder cooperatively retain the second article holder in abutting engagement with the stop element.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein said forming step is further defined as thermoforming the blister from a single piece of stock material, each of the first article holder and the second article holder being joined to a remainder of the blister by a living hinge.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein said forming step is further defined as thermoforming a contour in a face of the blister to define the stop element.
 21. The method of claim 20 wherein said forming step is further defined as thermoforming a contour in the face of the blister to define the snap element.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein said forming step is further defined as thermoforming the blister with the first article holder extending from an interior of the blister and the second article holder extending from a periphery of the blister. 